WACO, Texas — Though West Virginia enjoyed a halftime lead at Baylor, coach Bob Huggins wasn’t enjoying one facet in particular.
His team had been out-rebounded 20-9 during the opening 20 minutes, and surrendered a four-point possession late in the half after Baylor rebounded its own missed free throw leading to a 3-point shot.
In the locker room, Huggins delivered a chewing he claimed was all fire and fury.
“That’s the most emotional I’ve been, because you can’t just stand there and let people rebound the ball at the foul line,” Huggins said. “I got on our bigs pretty good.”
Yes, Baylor was taller and longer and leading the Big 12 in rebounding margin. But Huggins
“There’s a difference between getting outmanned—which we do at times—and just kind of lackadaisically stepping in there,” he said. “We didn’t fight ’em. … They’re good rebounders, but it still shouldn’t stop you from trying to put your body between them and the ball, though.”
The second-half rebounding margin after Huggins’ tirade? It was 18-17 in West Virginia’s favor.